Latin America 2060: Environmental Sustainability

Throughout its history, Latin America has produced vigorous ideas, but many of its emerging social [...]and cultural movements are not yet well structured. To that end, Boston University’s Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future paired up with the Latin American Studies program to analyze what social, economic, political, and cultural patterns are most likely to emerge in Latin America over the next 50 years.

The task force convened over two days in November 2010, with the third panel focusing on sustainability. Tom Kunz, a BU professor of biology and director of the BU Center for Ecology & Conservation Biology, spoke about biodiversity in Latin America, particularly in Ecuador, while Enrique Saravia, of the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil, presented suggestions on ways to achieve effective and sustainable governance in Latin America. Carlos Blanco, a BU visiting professor of international relations, focused on reforms related to political parties, public administration, state power, the office of presidents, and decentralization in Latin America. Anitra Thorhaug, of Yale University and the U.S. Club of Rome, ended the conference by sharing examples of broader environmental implications over the next 45 years, including population, food, and water.

Hosted by the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, in conjunction with the BU Latin American Studies program, on November 18, 2010.